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HOLY SABBATH
Christ became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name
which is above every name.
Philippians 2.8-9
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Creator of heaven and earth,
as the crucified body of Your dear Son
was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath,
so may we await with Him the coming of the third day,
and rise with Him to newness of life.
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As we wait in stillness . . .
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O God,
we offer the prayers we carry deep in our heart
that those who need deliverance
may know Your steadfast love and salvation.
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Merciful God,
release us from the time of trial and oppression,
that we may witness to the eternal hope
of grief becoming joy
and life rising from death. Amen.
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Scripture Readings:
{ click to read }
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Job 14.1-14 | Psalm 31.1-4, 15-16 | l Peter 4.1-8 | John 19.38-42
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Eternal God, Rock and Refuge:
with roots grown old in the earth,
river beds run dry,
and flowers withered in the field,
we wait for revival and release.
Abide with us
until we come alive
in the sunrise of Your glory.
With faith, believing in Your Name.
Amen.
~*~
prayers reprinted {with modifications} from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright 2002 Consultation on Common Texts and The Book of Alternative Services
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Scripture Readings:
{ click to read }
Isaiah 52.13-53.12 | Psalm 22.1-17 | Hebrews 4.14-16; 5.7-9 | John 19.17-30 |
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Grieving God,
on the cross
Your Son embraced death
even as He had embraced life;
faithfully and with good courage.
Grant that we who have been
born out of His wounded side
may hold fast to our faith in Him.
Make us steadfast witnesses of our Saviour's reign
that we may live in the pattern of Christ,
Who was faithful in all things, even death.
In the name of Him
Whose darkest hour gives Light and Hope.
Amen.
~*~
prayers reprinted {with modifications} from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers,
copyright 2002 Consultation on Common Texts
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HOLY WEEK: MAUNDY THURSDAY
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After he had washed their feet, taken back his clothes and returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me ‘Rabbi’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because I am. Now if I, the Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet. For I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you. Yes, indeed! I tell you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is an emissary greater than the one who sent him.
John 13.12-16
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Father,
in the sharing of a meal,
in the washing of feet,
Your Son has shown us a new way of life.
May You grant, by the power of Your Holy Spirit,
these signs of our life in faith
may speak to our hearts,
feed our spirits,
and refresh our bodies.
In the name of the One who is our Example. Amen.
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On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
l Corinthians 11. 23-26
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May we recognize the example set by our Lord Jesus' in breaking the bread.
May we too, live the broken life.
Broken and Given.
In remembrance of Him.
Amen.
~
Scripture Readings:
{ click to read }
Jeremiah 31.31-34 | Psalm 116.10-17 | Hebrews 10.16-25 | Luke 22.7-20
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Lord,
Your love and life is poured out in death for our sakes.
Hold us in Your embrace
as we wait for Easter's dawn.
Comfort us with the promise that no power on earth,
not even death itself,
can separate us from Your love,
and strengthen us to wait
for Your victory when
You are revealed to us
in all Your glory.
In Your victorious name we pray. Amen.
~*~
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HOLY WEEK: WEDNESDAY
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Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples
John 13.35
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Holy God,
who call Your people to sustain the weary and protect the oppressed.
Uphold us in our concerns and strengthen us,
that we may not only speak our prayers
but act on behalf of their fulfillment.
Most Holy One,
grant that we may be counted as members of the great cloud of witnesses
who live with justice and compassion,
and reveal Your divine glory before all people.
In the name of the Son You glorified. Amen.
~
Scripture Readings:
{click to read}
Isaiah 50.4-9a | Psalm 70 | Hebrews 12.1-3 | John 13.21-32
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Powerful Deliverer,
as You delivered the Hebrews safely
out of the long labour of slavery,
so, morning by morning,
You draw us forth into the new day.
Surround us with Your cloud of witnesses,
and sustain us by Your powerful Word, that,
in the night of loneliness and fear,
we, being weary , may not lose heart.
Comfort us in tribulation
as we push toward the joy that is to come,
labouring with Christ to give birth
to Your promised kingdom.
We ask this in the name of Your Son, Yeshua Jesus.
Amen.
~*~
prayers reprinted with modifications from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers,
copyright 2002 Consultation on Common Texts
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HOLY WEEK: TUESDAY
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Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, says the Lord,
because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honour anyone who serves me.
John 12.26
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O God,
by the passion of your blessed Son,
You made an instrument of shameful death to be for us
the means of Life.
May our lives be so transformed by His passion that
we may witness to His grace;
Reveal Your glory to the nations, that Your cross may stand as a sign
that conquers human pride and confounds the wisdom of the world.
In the Name of Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and forever.
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Scripture Readings:
{click to read}
Isaiah 49.1-7 | Psalm 71.1-14 | 1 Corinthians 1.18-31 | John 12.20-36
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Holy and Immortal God,
from earliest times You have named us
and called us into discipleship.
Teach us to follow the One whose light scatters the darkness of our world,
that we may walk as children of the Light.
In whose name we pray. Amen.
~*~
selection of prayers reprinted with modifications from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright 2002
Consultation on Common Texts
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This is real love - not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent
His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
1 John 4.10
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HOLY WEEK: MONDAY
God, through Christ, has given us as a covenant to the people,
to heal and to liberate through prayer and presence.
We gather the concerns of the church and the world,
and hold them in our hearts before our Creator and Redeemer.
Gracious God, the Hope of all in need,
pour your Spirit upon us,
that we may be instruments of Your justice and compassion,
a light to the nations,
and a living promise of Your new heaven and new earth.
In Your Son's name we pray, Amen.
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Scripture Readings:
{click to read}
Isaiah 42.1-9 | Psalm 36.5-11 | Hebrews 9.11-15 | John 12.1-11
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God of steadfast love,
Light of the blind and Liberator of the oppressed,
we see Your holy purpose in the tender compassion of Jesus,
who calls us into new and living friendship with You.
May we, who take shelter in the shadow of Your wings,
be filled with the grace of His tender caring;
may we, who stumble in selfish darkeness,
see Your glory in the light of His self-giving.
We ask this through The One whose suffering is victorious.
Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
~*~
prayers reprinted with modifications from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright 2002
Consultation on Common Texts
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